Jim - that is an example we should all follow.
the only truly effective way of dealing with these people is through elections and the courts.
If nearly 65% of the country does not own a gun, elections may not always turn out in our favor. And even if the courts rigorously enforce the 2nd Amendment, that provision can be revoked. As this country becomes increasingly urban, it is likely that gun ownership rates will drop. Advocates for gun control are not always viewed by the general public as wing-nuts (local police, for instance). We need to recognize that gun ownership is ultimately subject to the political will of this country's voters, of which we gun owners are a minority - so we need to be both advocates and ambassadors.
According to a Gallup poll from 2005, 41% of gun owners identified themselves as Republicans, 27% as independents and 23% as Democrats. A non-partisan approach to this issue makes for a bigger tent and more political leverage in the long run.
The good news is that we are at a relative high point in terms of the public's overall attitude towards gun control - most Americans are currently not in favor of stricter gun control laws.
Gallup Poll
